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2018 Ford F-150 Diesel

Available for the first time ever with a diesel powertrain, the truck comes equipped with a standard 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel engine rated at 250 hp and 440 lb.-ft. of torque. Photo by Lauren Fletcher

On sale in May, the 2018 Ford F-150 diesel is an extremely capable truck. Work Truck had a chance to put the truck to the test in Colorado.

Available for the first time ever with a diesel powertrain., the truck comes equipped with a standard 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel engine rated at 250 hp and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.

The truck is available in two wheelbases (145- and 156.8 inches), a 5.5- and 6.5-foot box option, and 4x4 and 4x2 versions. The 4x2 truck achieves an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 30 mpg highway, 22 mpg city, and 25 mpg combined.

Capable of towing 11,400 pounds or hauling 2020 pounds of payload, the first truck arrived hauling a pretty famous Humvee, used in several movies. The Humvee weighed 7,400 pounds and was on a 2,800-pound trailer.

Driving Impressions

As part of the testing, we took the trucks on an off-road course complete with mud bogs, hill climbs, and technical work. The truck handled everything thrown in its path. With plenty of ground clearance and reinforcements under the truck, it handled moguls and logs with no problem. Its powerful engine kept it from getting bogged down in the mud pits. Steep inclines on dirt were handled easily and the hill descent mode allowed me to easily tackle a 29-degree hill without even needing to touch the break. In addition, the 360-degree camera view allowed me to see obstacles such as rocks and logs and avoid them with ease.

Additional time was spent driving with various payloads, including 1,000-pounds of lumber. We drove a route unloaded and fully loaded back to back for comparison, with the only recognizable difference in the loaded truck being a barely noticeable decrease in stopping distance.

Throwing the truck into tow/haul mode, we took the box trailer, weighing 6,240 pounds, out to see how the truck handled. Photo by Lauren Fletcher

In addition, we were given the opportunity to tow either a boat or a trailer. Throwing the truck into tow/haul mode, we took the box trailer, weighing 6,240 pounds, out to see how the truck handled. Aside from some minor wind wobbles due to the size of the trailer and open fields we were driving through, you couldn’t tell there was a load behind you. Mirror placement allowed for full adjustability to see around the load.

Finally, the recently announced fuel economy numbers were put to the test during a fuel economy challenge, in which most drivers were able to exceed the EPA-estimated numbers by quite a margin, with some achieving more than 37 mpg highway, with the average around 32 mpg highway. The fuel-economy route included hills and areas with traffic and signals.

The truck will be a welcome addition to fleets that are already utilizing other, larger diesel trucks or looking for an upgrade to their current F-150 gasoline models that have the fuel economy and towing capabilities needed by vocational fleets.

Driving Notes

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